One man band?

Dan DiMarco of Keswick, Ontario Canada built this ingenious washboard guitar with many of the same characteristics of a cigar box guitar. 

We just love how the neck goes through the top of the washboard and continues past the top lip.  DiMarco put enough room in the hole for the strings to pass and vibrate freely. 

DiMarco says,

"it is 25.5 scale fretted oak neck walnut fret board. I [ran the neck] through the washboard for stability. A piezo pickup hot glued in a beer bottle cap for sound and less static it seems to give more of that old time sound. And I brought the strings through the body.  The washboard was at an Antique store just out of town for just making this guitar."

DiMarco makes a good point about crafting a good piezo pickup sound.  These little round contact mics can often sound too brittle or have too much treble.  Embedding them in hot glue is one good way to take the tone.  Do you have secrets to share about wiring up piezo pickups...or do you need help?  Click thru to these Cigar Box Nation groups and join the discussions:

AD FROM CIGAR BOX NATION'S SPONSOR, C. B. GITTY:

Cigar Box Nation member, Reeds Taylor stepped out and performed a new and original song on his Cigar Box Guitar.  It was part of a challenge on Facebook to write songs in support of an MS cure.  Click the link below to see the song.  (It starts at 1:45 on the video.)

Your Cheatin’ Heart by Hank Williams – arranged by Glenn Watt

Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan – arranged by Ben “C. B. Gitty.” Baker

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen - arranged by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker

Home on the Range - arranged by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain - arranged by Ben C. B. Gitty Baker

CHORD CHARTS!

Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band album, Holler! named one of best in 2014...by two different sources

2014 was a whirlwind year for Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band.  The insane combo, known as the 'world's loudest jug band' features cigar box guitars plus other homemade instruments.  Their first album Holler! was released by C. B. Gitty Records in the Spring of 2014.

In the Best Of lists published, Speal and his band have garnered at least two top slots for 2014:

BluesBiscuits.com says in their "Hot Biscuits! Christmas themed list, "Santa let loose a Holler! every time he rides through the threshold of hell."

Firebrand Rock Radio lists Holler! as #5 in their top 20 blues and Southern rock albums, beating out Brian Setzer, Joan Osborne's Trigger Hippy, Scott H. Biram and Devon Allman!  "Pure fun on every level.  Put this one on, crank it loud and piss off the neighbors!"  (Also see their blog.)

AD BY CIGAR BOX NATION SPONSOR, C. B. GITTY

C. B. Gitty introduces Strat® style tailpieces for
3 and 4 string cigar box guitar!

The possibilities of the cigar box guitar took a quantum leap ahead today as C. B. Gitty introduces 3 and 4 string versions of the Strat hardtail bridge.  Many builders have modified 6-string hardtails before, but a stock 3 or 4 string just hadn't been available until now.

Gitty is offering the Hardtail Bridges at low prices
3-String Hardtail just $11.49
(Quantity Discount: buy 10 or more for just $10.49 each!)

4-String Hardtail just $13.99
(Quantity Discount: buy 10 or more for just $12.99 each!)